South Korea’s military intelligence faces overhaul after classified leaks to North

In South Korea, an intelligence officer stands accused of leaking classified information to a suspected North Korean agent in China – a breach of trust that could reshape the landscape of the country’s military intelligence.

As whispers of espionage echo through the halls of power, the fallout threatens not only national security but also the fragile alliances Seoul has worked to forge with its Western partners, analysts say.

The spotlight is on a 49-year-old employee of the KDIC, indicted for allegedly leaking sensitive information, including the names and identities of South Korean undercover agents, to a Chinese national of Korean descent. Observers remain cautious, noting that it’s unclear whether the recipient has any direct ties to North Korea, as South Korean authorities lack the means to apprehend him in China.

Repercussions of the leak have been swift and severe. Reports indicate that some agents are returning to South Korea, fearing for their safety and abandoning intelligence networks painstakingly established over years.

The KDIC indictment follows the case of Sue Mi Terry, a prominent North Korea expert and former CIA analyst, who was charged in July with secretly working for the South Korean government in exchange for luxury goods, high-end meals and US$37,000 for a fund she controlled. Terry reportedly maintained contact with agents from South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), which operates similarly to the CIA in the United States.